THE FAMILY GOOD NEWS-LETTER by Gene McGuire August, 2013

LABOR DAY NEWSLETTER

                                         The Family Good News-Letter
29th Year                                         September 2, 2013

Dear Friends and Family,

Since the Labor Day Holiday is upon us, I thought it might be appropriate to take a closer look at what we do to earn a living and what spiritual significance that activity might have. People usually divide occupations into two categories, religious and secular. When we think religious, the usual stereotypes come to mind . . . pastors, missionaries, gospel singer and evangelists. It might be beneficial for us to look at this subject from a different perspective. The reign of King David in Israel would be a good starting point.

     David wore two hats. He was both the spiritual as well as the so-called secular leader. This kind of arrangement is called a theocracy. I would like to share a short commentary with you from Thomas Nelson Publishers’ Daily Devotional Bible.  It treats the subject in a much better manner than I ever could. In addition, this approach helps me avoid the temptation to plagiarize. (SMILE)

     David was the king over a theocracy. He organized his people for religious duties as well as for what might be termed “secular” duties. In the theocracy, however, there was no distinction. Any assigned service was in essence a sacred duty, whether one was a soldier or priest. Duty toward the kingdom was duty toward God Who was over the kingdom. Such a thought should dominate the thoughts of the Christian. All of life is sacred. The believer is always on duty. Even in one’s chosen occupation, one is to be a dutiful Christian in the performance of his work. Working at a secular job to make a livelihood merely serves as a means by which one performs his overall duty toward God. The believer is never off duty in his moral obligation.

     Just in case some of you might exclaim “That Old Testament stuff doesn’t apply to me”, let’s talk a little New Testament!!!! Col. 3:23 tells us “Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as (something done) for the Lord and not for men.” And if that doesn’t convince you, try on Col. 1:13 which informs us that “We have been translated from the Kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God’s own Son.”  Therefore, we Christians are not unlike the Hebrews who were subject to King David, we too live in a theocracy. However, there is a significant difference between the two monarchs. Our King is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Savior of the World, the One True God, Jesus Christ.

                                                                     Have a Blessing and be a Blessing,

                                                                                        Gene

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Happy Independence Day From Gene McGuire! July, 2013

The Family Good News -Letter

 

Editor’s Note: The following message is found in a Christian tract written by Donald Crawford and published by American Tract Society. The work is called Our Declaration of Dependence. My attempt to get copies of this tract was in vain. Therefore I am reproducing the literature in order for you to enjoy this excellent discourse.

Gene McGuire

In July 1776, one of America’s most historic documents was signed in the city of Philadelphia: THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. It marked the birth of this nation which, under God, was destined for world leadership. But what we often forget is that, in declaring independence from an earthly power, our forefathers made a forthright declaration of dependence upon Almighty God. The closing words of the DECLARATION solemnly declare:

“With a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually

pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”

It is important that we recall this very basic Declaration of Dependence, for in her prosperity and power, and in her unique position of world leadership, America

today is forgetting the God of our fathers, the God who gave this nation its birth and its present greatness. We need to be reminded of another warning that God gave to another great nation, Israel, on the occasion of her independence. This warning is found in the Bible, and although written over 3,000 years ago, it might easily refer to modern America today.

For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land. . . a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing. . .When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God. . .Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied. . . then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God. . . (Deut. 8:7-14)

 

     History has made it abundantly clear that those who declare their independence from God by their lives and actions soon become slavishly dependent upon the circumstances and changes of life. On the other hand, those who have humbly declared their dependence upon God have been remarkably free and independent of concern for life’s uncertain circumstances. Abraham Lincoln, in his 1863 proclamation of a day for national prayer, said:

“Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to

feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace – too proud to pray

to the God that made us.”

So let us pray that our beloved country will have a new birth of freedom; not a freedom from God – which always leads to ultimate moral slavery – but rather a freedom built upon God and His commandments, apart from which any nation will perish. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”

(Proverbs 14:34)

Let us also pray that each one of us will experience a personal new birth of freedom, a freedom that results from complete trust in the death and resurrection of Christ for the forgiveness of personal sin (Acts 10:34-43). As citizens of the United States, let us also become citizens of heaven, able to say that we “have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God”. (1 Peter 1:23)

 

     Then, like so many of the founding fathers of our beloved country, will we find in God our life, liberty, and true happiness.     

A Higher Level Of Wisdom! April, 2013

We have all been there.  We pull out instructions to put an item together and it does not work.  It’s as though something is missing.  Maybe it’s the words, they don’t quite describe or explain what we need to know.  In those cases a lot of people give up.  I never do.  I simply…pray and ask God for His Wisdom and Insight.  I have learned to do that at the start of my day. 

Or better yet, ever met anyone who tries to tell you what the Bible says when their lack of revelation is all too clear…I pray in those instances too…I don’t correct; I just allow the Holy Spirit to lead me.

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

1 Corinthians 2: 7

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Resurrection Miracle! March, 2013

 

Mark 16:1-8
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ”

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. (

Use Your Gift To Serve Others February, 2013

1 Peter 4:10 (#17 of 18 Bible Verses about Grace)
¹⁰Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.